Kitty Obesity

Is your feline friend a furry little chonker? If so, she’s in good (and super cute) company. More than half of domestic cats are overweight or obese. And while we all know that chubby cats are adorable, those extra pounds carry some pretty serious health risks for your cute pet. A local Bel Air, MD vet discusses feline obesity in this article.

How Long Do Obese Cats Live?

Unfortunately, obese cats do not live as long as those at a healthy weight. Fluffy’s life expectancy may be just five to ten years, compared to the 10 to 15-year average she would otherwise expect. To put the numbers into purrspective a different way … fat cats that are between the ages of 8 and 12 years old have a mortality rate that is 2.8 times higher than their skinnier kin.

How Do You Slim Down A Fat Cat?

You can’t exactly expect Fluffy to follow any sort of weight loss regime on her own. The good news here is that ultimately, her diet is in your hands. Most cats can’t get themselves a snack or pop open a can of food. We say most because some kitties have figured out how to get into cupboards. There are also some that are not shy about stealing their human’s food.

Regardless, what your pet can—and may—do, however, is meow and beg until you give in. You may need to steel yourself against that adorable furry face.

What Should I Feed My Obese Cat?

Diet plays a huge role in your kitty’s overall weight and health. Here are a few tips on feeding Fluffy:

• Opt for a high-quality food. You don’t need to break the bank buying cat food, but your kitty’s menu should be nourishing and healthy. Choosing brands can get a bit tricky, so you’ll want to get into the habit of reading labels. There are a few rules of thumb to keep in mind. Once you know what to look for, things will get much easier.
• Pet food labels must use the same practices that human ones do. The main thing is that the ingredients must be listed in percentage order. That means the first thing listed has the highest proportional amount of all the ingredients. look for things that list meat, fish, or poultry first on the label. Look at the other ingredients as well. avoid things that have a lot of fillers, such as corn or wheat. These foods are not only carb-heavy, they really aren’t great for kitties to begin with.
• Portion control is important as well. Even giving Fluffy just ten extra calories a day can cause her to gain a pound a year. A hundred extra calories a day would be a pound a month. That’s a lot for a ball of fur! 
• Pay attention to calorie counts. Generally, as a rule of thumb, a kitty would need about 20 to 30  calories per pound per day. However, there is still some variation there. An active, frisky cat is going to burn more fuel than one who sleeps all the time. (We’ll save Fluffy’s sleeping habits for another blog.) 

Choose Age-Appropriate Food

Your feline buddy’s dietary needs will also change over time. A kitten has different nutritional needs than a senior cat would. Talk to your Bel Air, MD vet about when and how to make these transitions.

What If My Cats Need Different Diets?

This isn’t an uncommon issue. Many households have more than one feline. You may have a senior cat that needs one type of food and a kitten that needs something different. Obviously, telling Fluffy not to eat Mittens’ food probably isn’t going to work very well.

One thing you could look into is getting microchip-equipped dishes. These will be linked to a kitty’s microchip, so it will only open for that cat. Another option is to just stick with set meal times, and feed both of your pets separately but at the same time.

What Are The Health Risks of Feline Obesity?

Obesity in cats carries many of the same risks as it does for humans. As you may expect, heart disease is one of the most common and most concerning. However, it is by no means the only risk.

Here are some of the others:

• Diabetes
• Osteoarthritis
• Urinary Tract Infections
• Cancer
• Hypertension
• Cardiovascular disease
• Arthritis
• Systemic inflammation
• Anesthetic complications
• Increased urination
• Liver disease
• Respiratory disease
• Skin problems
• Kidney dysfunction
• Shorter lifespan
• Skin and coat problems
• Metabolic disorder
• Reduced quality of life

Ask your Bel Air, MD vet for more information.

How Do I Keep My Cat Active?

Our feline pals tend to be very active when they are kittens, but, like the rest of us, they slow down over time. (Note: Cats actually slow down even more than most creatures. Senior kitties can sleep up to 20 hours a day.)

You can’t coax Fluffy into running up and down the stairs or get her to sprint on command, but there are things you can do to keep her moving. Offering lots of toys and playtime really is the way to go here. 

Daily play sessions are a great way to get your furry pal moving. Use interactive toys, such as a wand toy or laser pointer. You can also get your cute pet a smart toy, which will respond to her movements. These things tend to work great because they tap into your pet’s inner tiger, and unleash her hunting instincts.

Another thing that may help is getting some cat furniture that will facilitate and encourage activity. Having a cat tower to climb or a kitty wheel to run on definitely isn’t going to hurt! 

Of course, if your pet is bold and curious, she may enjoy going for walks on leashes. Just put safety first. Never leave your cat unattended with her harness or collar, and don’t force her to go for walks if she doesn’t seem to enjoy them. 

Be sure to ask your Bel Air, MD vet for more information.

What Causes Feline Obesity?

As with people, Fluffy’s weight is typically determined by her caloric intake and exercise habits. In most cases, a chubby cat is simply taking in more calories than they are burning off. (That probably isn’t a surprise, given our feline pals’ sleeping habits.) If you have a cat, it probably wouldn’t be a shock if your cat were asleep right now. Unfortunately for Fluffy, catching Zs won’t burn anywhere near as many calories as catching mice.

Diet and exercise aren’t the only factors. Your pet’s age will also come into play. Older cats have different nutritional needs than younger ones, and often don’t need as many calories. This is something to talk to your vet about regularly, especially as your feline pal ages.

Medical conditions can also affect your pet’s weight. Some may trigger weight loss, while others will prompt weight gain. If you aren’t sure why your pet is gaining or losing, set an appointment at our clinic, and have your Bel Air, MD vet look her over.

Make An Appointment At Our Bel Air, MD Animal Hospital

Do you have a chubby cat on your hands? (Or on your lap?) Do you have questions about your pet’s diet or care needs? Please do not hesitate to reach out to us. As your local Bel Air, MD animal clinic, we are here to help!